02_18_03: A Special Tribute & "Mi Casa Su Casa"

Howdy! Welcome to the 17th edition of the Mad Cowboy e-Newsletter... This Month brings us some sad news with the death of one of Howard s closest friends,

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, Feb 18, 2003

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Howdy! Welcome to the 17th edition of the Mad Cowboy e-Newsletter...

This Month brings us some sad news with the death of one of Howard's
closest friends, Hans Sigenthaler. Hans was also a piller of strength and
example in the veg'n community, and he will be missed.

Howard's written a special Tribute to Hans, and we've also provided links
to pictures taken of Hans and his wife, Coby, at AR2002 last July, as well
as pictures taken recently at the Memorial Service.

In this "larger than normal" issue, too, you'll have access to the full
interview with Joe Connelly (Editor, VegNews), now transcribed and
available online, learn how "Bush, Beef, and Tweens" are related, read
about a Salmonella-survivor in Congress who is working towards safe food
for children, know that Philip Morris Company has changed its name, smile
at "Smart Fuel" in Australia, and wish you'd attended VegFair when you see
the pictures Howard brought back.

Also, there's information on how to make every day an Earth Day at Earth
911, updates from the UK Vegan Society, an interactive map of "kids and
chemicals" for the United States, and the story behind how farming is
destroying the Great Barrier Reef. Look closely, and you'll be able to see
a picture of Howard and the tank he used to drive when in the U.S. Army,
as well as John Robbins with his grandchildren!

On February second many friends gathered to pay tribute to the gentle
giant, Hans Siegentaler. For over eighty-one years Hans blessed this
planet with his quiet wisdom. He believed that actions spoke louder than
words. His actions were hard to fault.

Hans was not one to speak of others shortcomings. He was always willing to
give another the benefit of a doubt. For Hans walking his talk was a
given. I never heard him say something that was not part of his lifestyle.
It was as if he wrote and lived the golden rule.

Hans loved life. He was always ready with a small joke and smile. No form
of life was too small or too insignificant to be revered. Hans greatest
love was reserved for his partner of over fifty years, his wife and soul
mate, Coby. To watch the tender interaction between them was to understand
unconditional love. No service was too large of too small between these
two unique people. All they had and all they could do were part of making
the world a better place for all beings.

Hans has departed but he will never be forgotten. He has touched everyone
with some of his magic. I hope and pray to become a better person with the
lessons I learned by watching Hans Siegenthaler. Rest in peace good friend.

New Excerpts from the January Interview with Joe Connelly, Editor, VegNews:

BIGGEST THREATS (from Part 3)

MS: Let me ask you this: what would you consider to be the biggest threats
to these movements and issues? Is it possible to indentify them?

JC: The biggest threat, I think, is the same threat that all social
progress movements face. When it becomes obvious that we're making
progress, and when it becomes obvious we're on the right track, and this is
really a no-brainer, then there's going to be opposition by those who wish
to hold on to the "old way" because they're reluctant to change.

The milk industry, with their Milk Mustache Ads, and James "bypass" Gardner
with the beef commercials.

MS: The dairy industry's "3 A Day" campaign....

JC: Right. When it becomes so overwhelmingly obvious that your industry is
dying, you fight with everything you have. It's usually a lost cause, and I
believe in this case, it will be a lost cause.

BURN-OUT, TIME MANAGEMENT, & FAMILY (from Part 1)

MS: ....I think of the original inspiration for the Mad Cowboy Newsletter,
Robert Cohen's "NotMilk" daily column, wondering how he does it, and I
think of Joanne Stepaniak, who must write recipes down with two hands while
she sleeps, and then Alex Hershaft (FARM)... who I'm not sure ever sleeps.
Given the challenge of producing VegNews regularly, how do you manage your
time and avoid burn-out? Is it a problem for you?

JC: I manage my time, probably on the same principles of the people you
just mentioned.... I'm driven, and therefore I've been able to create a
situation where my work and life are meshed. Which is probably the best
thing a person can ever do for themselves in terms of self-satisfaction ---
believing that their work and life are worthwhile. The last thing I'd ever
want to have to do is work an 9 to 5 type job and do this work on the side.

MS: So you have no problem getting out of bed in the morning?

JC: I have problems going to bed at night, actually.

MC: How does Colleen put up with you?

JC: Colleen has tremendous talents and unbelievable resources, but she
does.... get... a little upset that I.... I'm driven. Colleen is just as
driven as I am, but she also has much more balance in life.

Diet Battles Head for Television
02/18/03: The New York Times (by Patricia Winters Lauro)

[Excerpted]: "The continuing battle between diet gurus promoting a
low-fat, high-fiber lifestyle and those preaching a high-protein,
low-carbohydrate approach is taking to the air this week, with a 30-second
television commercial sponsored by the Physicians Committee for Responsible
Medicine.

The committee views high-protein diets as potentially dangerous. The
commercial, created by Tidepool Media Productions in Washington, tells
viewers that a high-protein, meat-intense diet can promote osteoporosis,
kidney disease and possibly colon cancer. "You have more to lose than just
weight," a voiceover says.

The commercial never mentions Dr. Robert Atkins or his diet, but the Atkins
diet is clearly a target. Dr. Barnard [PCRM] said the Atkins diet was not
mentioned by name in the ad because other high-protein diets like the Zone
are also popular.

The TV spot is running on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" in Chicago, Houston and
Washington. A full-page print ad will run in USA Today in the regional
markets of Nashville, St. Louis and New Orleans. The markets were selected
because their populations have high rates of obesity and other fat-related
health problems, said Simon Chaitowitz, the committee's communications
director.

01/27/03: NEW YORK (Reuters) - [excerpted] "Philip Morris Cos. Inc. MO.N ,
whose operating companies' well-known brands include Marlboro cigarettes,
Kraft Macaroni & Cheese and Maxwell House coffee, on Monday changed its
name to Altria Group Inc., after years of having a name associated with its
tobacco history. Altria also holds a 36 percent stake in SABMiller, the
world's No. 2 brewer, which now owns Miller Brewing Co."

The name Altria was coined from "altus" -- the Latin word for "high." The
company has said it chose the name to reflect its "peak" performance.

12/01/02: By Douglas J. Besharov (AEI)[excerpted]: "The poor in America are
far more likely to be at risk of death and disease because of overeating
than starvation. Yet federal food programs continue to focus on high
calorie intakes, instead of teaching healthy eating habits.

About 65 percent of all Americans are overweight, and nearly half of those
are obese. The best estimates place the rates for the poor at 5 to 10
percentage points higher. Adolescents from needy families are twice as
likely to be overweight.

The school lunch and breakfast programs, serving almost 28 million lunches
and more than 8 million breakfasts on an average day, also lead to
overconsumption. Schools are required to provide 25 percent of the
Recommended Dietary Allowance of calories for breakfast and 33 percent for
lunch, so by the time participants get home from school, they have already
eaten 58 percent of their appropriate calorie level.

"Several foods and nutrients have been implicated in the development of
colon and rectal cancers. In this study, we prospectively assessed the
associations between major dietary patterns and the risks of these 2
cancers in women.

Using dietary information collected in 1984, 1986, 1990, and 1994 from 76
402 women aged 38 to 63 years without a history of cancer in 1984, we
conducted factor analysis and identified 2 major dietary patterns:
"prudent" and "Western." The prudent pattern was characterized by higher
intakes of fruits, vegetables, legumes, fish, poultry, and whole grains,
while the Western pattern, by higher intakes of red and processed meats,
sweets and desserts, french fries, and refined grains.

Conclusion: We found a significant positive association between the
Western dietary pattern and the risk of colon cancer."

************************************************
*05: Article: Bush, Beef, and Tweens
************************************************
*WHY DID BUSH SIT NEXT TO SASHA COHEN AT THE OLYMPICS?

02/26/02: By BuzzFlash Reader Alan Balch [excerpted]: "On February 8th,
George W. Bush spoke at the National Cattlemen's Beef Associations annual
meeting in Denver. "We want the people in China eating U.S. beef" the
President stated to thunderous approval. (seehttp://199.117.58.133/newsroom/ncba/2002/02_0208a.htm).

In each of the last three election cycles, the National Cattleman's Beef
Association gave nearly a half a million dollars in political
contributions, for a six-year total of nearly $1.3 million. Roughly 85%
percent of these donations in each of the last three election cycles have
gone to Republicans.

Later that same day, Bush traveled to Utah and participated in the Opening
Ceremonies of the Winter Olympics. After appearing in the national anthem
ceremony, Bush showed up sitting in the stands amongst the US athletes. NBC
showed him humbly perched next to a shocked and giggly young lady who
handed Bush her cell phone so he could say hi to her mommy. The young girl
was figure skater Sasha Cohen.

Of the 211 members of the US Olympic squad, guess which one has the unique
distinction of being the official youth spokesperson for the National
Cattlemen's Beef Association?

On February 6th (just 2 days before Bush's appearance at their annual
convention), the Beef Association announced plans for an April 2002 media
blitz featuring Sasha. "To reach young girls with a positive message about
beef," the Beef folks will run one-page, full-color ads featuring Sasha "in
11 high-profile youth publications beginning in April." The youth program
Sasha is the spokesperson for targets what the Beef Association calls
"tween girls...between ages 8 and 12...who will be moms in not too many
years" and they just wants these youngsters to "understand the benefits of
including beef in their diets." The Association gloats: "this ad campaign
is projected to provide more than 13 million impressions to the targeted
age group through magazines they read" (seehttp://199.117.58.133/newsroom/ncba/2002/02_0206g.htm). "

"Petty Officer Michael Oleskyn says that when he joined the navy, mess
chefs "would have told you where to go" if a sailor dared to declare that
he was a vegetarian.

Now, nearly 20 years later, and much to the relief of the like of Trainee
Seaman Chloe Rees, there has been quite the culinary sea change in the RAN.

"At first, I was a bit scared to tell them I was a vegetarian," she said.
"Every time we went through the mess meal line it was such a rush I didn't
want to put anyone out."

It is part of a program called Smart Fuel which was first introduced in
corporate canteens. Now, in consultation with the navy, it is being phased
in by Serco Sodexho, contracted caterers to the Australian Defence Force.
The concept will also be introduced into the army and air force."
[Full article:http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/02/10/1044725737106.html

*UPDATES FROM THE UK VEGAN SOCIETY

The Vegan Society has recently added/improved some content on the website.

************************************************
*07: Humor: Bananas Sweep Primates' Choice Awards
************************************************
"LOS ANGELES-- In a gala, chimp-studded affair at the Shrine Auditorium,
bananas swept the Primates' Choice Awards for the 42nd year in a row
Monday, winning such categories as Best Food, Best Fruit, and Best Dessert.
"This year, as in so many years past, bananas delighted and nourished the
primate world," said Dole CEO David Murdock, who accepted the award for
Best Potassium Source on behalf of bananas. "It is only fitting that we pay
tribute in kind." The fruit's sweep proved popular with the 3,200 simians
in attendance, who shrieked and jumped up and down in their seats each time
it was announced as the winner while a photo of bananas was projected onto
a giant screen."

02/02/03: London, Feb 2 (ANI)[excerpted]: "Now fish like sheep, elk and
humans could suffer a version of mad cow disease, or BSE, according to
preliminary evidence. The results might help reveal how the disease jumps
from species to species.

Infectious prions are thought to cause BSE and human variant
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD). They probably crossed from sheep to cows
and then to humans in infected meat. Now a team at the University of
Konstanz in Germany has identified a cousin of the prion protein in
pufferfish.

The discovery of a prion in fish - which are evolutionarily distant from
humans - suggest that the protein is "probably doing something fairly
important and basic", says Jonathan Weissman, who studies protein folding
at the University of California in San Francisco."

01/31/03: Diseases like Mad Cow Disease and Chronic Wasting Disease among
deer have generated numerous headlines over the past decade. They also
share something else in common--their origin. That is what a team of
researchers from the University of Illinois and Illinois Department of
Natural Resources is tackling through what is likely to be groundbreaking
research.

"Prions are proteins that occur in the brain of every animal," explained
Jan Novakofski, a professor in the U of I Department of Animal Sciences and
one of three lead researchers on the project. "In rare cases, these prions
change into something that causes brain cells to die, a poison if you will.
Once the process prion disease--starts, it cannot be stopped and to date no
one has found a way to inactivate these agents. Prion disease in animals
and humans is terminal."

ASHINGTON, Feb. 11 When Representative Rosa L. DeLauro was 2 years old,
she was stricken with salmonella poisoning, taken from her frightened
parents and quarantined for two weeks in a hospital.

For the sixth year in a row, she stood today with her fellow lawmakers and
announced that she was co-sponsoring the Safe Food Act designed to
strengthen food safety rules and streamline their enforcement.

"We face a food safety crisis," she said at a news conference, pointing to
the record recall last year of 66 million pounds of meat that were
potentially contaminated, nearly double the amount recalled in 2001. "Even
when the Agriculture Department knows a slaughterhouse is producing dirty
meat it does not have the authority to close it down," she added. "That is
unacceptable."

02/07/03: By Stephen Pincock - LONDON (Reuters Health) - [excerpted]:
"Preliminary experiments conducted in Scotland could lead to a blood test
for the errant proteins that cause Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (news - web
sites), a fatal brain-wasting disorder that can be caused by eating mad-cow
contaminated meat, researchers said this week.

If the study results are confirmed, the technology--from Australian firm
Gradipore--could make it feasible to screen donated blood for the proteins,
known as prions. It might also definitively diagnose prion diseases such as
CJD before death-something that is currently not possible. The system
could also be applied to screening donated blood for the prions."

01/29/03: SYDNEY, Australia (Reuters) -- Chemical run-off from cattle
grazing, sugarcane growing and urban development are polluting Australia's
Great Barrier Reef, a scientific report into environmental degradation has
found. The report, backed by the federal government and state authorities
in Queensland, called for an urgent review of legislation to protect the
world's largest living organism and one of Australia's top tourist
attractions.

"The reef is suffering from the way we clear, drain, settle and farm the
land," Beattie said. "It is like a huge drain collecting sediments,
nutrients, herbicides and pesticides from farming, grazing and urban
settlements."

Meatout is your best, once-a-year opportunity to tell your friends and
neighbors about the health, environmental, and ethical benefits of
plant-based eating, as well as help them "kick the meat habit and explore a
more wholesome, less violent diet of fruits, vegetables, and grains.

Join thousands of caring people in all 50 states and around the world on
March 20 by hosting a Meatout event in your area. Participating is easy,
no matter what the size of your event. We want you to join us. We are
here to help you. Join us at and be part of the solution! The animals need
ALL of us working for them!

************************************************
*12: Animal Rights 2003 West and East Coasts!
************************************************
WHAT: Animal Rights 2003 is the animal rights movement's annual national
conference. This year it will be held on both the East and West coasts.
AR2003 provides a forum for teaching skills, sharing knowledge, discussing
strategies and tactics, networking, and "recharging our batteries." This
conference will feature 120 presenters from every faction of the animal
rights movement. There will be in ten Plenary Sessions, 100 Workshops, 50
Campaign Reports, and 16 Rap Sessions. Other functions include Exhibits,
Videos, Newcomer Orientation, Employment Clearinghouse, Group Workouts,
Planning Meetings, Welcome and Networking Receptions, Awards Banquet, and
the Animal Rights Hall of Fame.

************************************************
*13: Donations to the Mad Cowboy Documentary
************************************************
*Both Mooshoes and VeganCats will donate 5% of sales accessed through the
MadCowboy Home Page to the filming of the Mad Cowboy Feature Documentary.
Check 'em out! Mooshoes sells much more than shoes, and VeganCats sells
cruelty-free products for cats AND dogs!

************************************************
*15: Answer to Last Issue's Question
************************************************
...and who said the following: "It is well that war is so terrible ---
lest we should grow too fond of it."

- General Robert E. Lee (in a letter to James Longstreet, December 13, 1862)

************************************************
*16: Next Week
************************************************
We finally get new Factoids, more pix of the making of the Mad Cowboy
Feature Documentary, and the answer to the question:

"What do companies buy for $1 and sell to us for 600 times that original cost?"

************************************************
*17: Closing Thought from Howard
************************************************
"How do we want, in the end, to measure the lives we have led? We could
measure them, of course, according to how much money and how many material
possessions we've accumulated. But, in the words made famous by a great
American play, you can't take it with you.

Or we could ask ourselves: have we done all that we could for the
generations to come? Are there more trees now than there were when we were
born? Is the air fresher? Is the water clearner? Is there more good,
rich farmland? Are there more gbirds in the sky, more fish in the sea? Are
there more animals in the wild? Are people leading longer, healthier lives?
Is there less hunger? Is there less disease and suffering? Is the world a
more peaceful place?

When you can't take it with you, all that really matters is what you leave
behind."